Press Releases
NEW EU REGULATION ON PASSENGER DISRUPTION

New EU legislation comes into effect on February 17, 2005 setting down rules for how and when airlines must compensate and offer assistance to disrupted passengers.

The legislation applies to all passengers departing from the EU regardless of the origin of the carrier, and all passengers on flights into the EU on EU based carriers. Currently British Airways are the only carrier that have asked us to distribute a document outlining passenger rights, however we do envisage all carriers will issue similar documents in the near future.

The legal minimum requirement is that all passengers be given in writing their EU rights in the event of a cancellation. Delays & cancellations on the departure day would be managed by the airline at the airport.

Griffin Marine Travel will, where possible, provide all customers with a copy of their EU rights with every ticket.

Four different disruption scenarios are covered by the new legislation:

• Cancelled flights
  
• Long delays
  
• Denied boarding
  
• Downgrades
  
• Remedies for disruption have been specified in the legislation, namely:
  
• Notifying the passenger of their rights under the new legislation
  
• Offering a re-route or a refund/re-imbursement
  
• Providing care at the airport
  
• Offering Compensation – in the case of denied boarding, downgrades and, where applicable, cancellations

Compensation for cancelled flights

In the event of a cancellation, a passenger is entitled to
compensation unless:

• The cancellation is outside the airlines control or;
  
• The passenger is advised of cancellation at least 14 days prior to departure or;
  
• The passenger is offered a re-route to their final destination within specified time parameters

If a passenger is entitled to compensation, what will they receive?

• Euro 250 for flights 1500km or less
  
• Euro 400 for flights between 1500km and 3500km
  
• Euro 600 for flights greater than 3500km
  
• NB. Compensation is reduced by 50% if a passenger is offered a reroute to their final destination within specified time parameters.
  
  Download a copy of British Airways EU passenger rights